Influence of Intragastric Fructose Infusion on Behavioural and Neural Responses to Negative Emotion Induction

The investigators will test whether a subliminal, intragastric dose of fructose is able to influence the emotional state at the behavioural and neural level, as has been previously shown for fatty acids. They will also examine the potential involvement of gut peptide release. Based on previous research using fatty acids, an attenuating effect of fructose compared to placebo on the induced negative emotional state is hypothesized at the self-report as well as the brain level.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy volunteers (N=15)
• Male and female
• Age 18 - 60
• Body Mass Index (BMI) of 20 - 25 kg/m2
• Stable body weight for at least 3 months prior to the start of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Abdominal or thoracic surgery. Exception: appendectomy
• Gastrointestinal, endocrine or neurological diseases. Exception: IBS if the participant will be recruited in the patient group
• Cardiovascular, respiratory, renal or urinary diseases
• Hypertension
• Food or drug allergies
• Anemia
• Eating disorders
• Psychotic disorders
• Depressive disorders
• Emotional and/or restraint eating
• No medication on a regular basis, exception: oral contraception
• No history of cannabis use or any other drug of abuse for at least 12 months prior to the study
• Alcohol abuse (more than 21 units of alcohol for men, more than 14 units for woman per week)
• Conditions that can interfere with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), e.g. cochlear implants, metal fragments or metal implants in the body, pacemaker, neural stimulator, …
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Claustrophobia